This is the dramatic moment Jacob Rees-Mogg was filmed trying to split up a fight after protesters stormed a University Hall where he was due to give a speech.
The Conservative backbencher was invited to speak at Bristol’s University of West of England (UWE), this evening although things took a turn for the worst when scuffles broke out in the audience.
Footage of the incident was posted online, and Mr Rees-Mogg can be seen being dragged from side-to-side as he attempts to defuse tensions between warring factions.
Huddles of people are seen on either side of the Eurosceptic MP, who is seen trying to reason with the arguing parties.
Mr Rees-Mogg was invited by the chairman of UWE’s Politics and International Relations Society, himself not a Conservative supporter, to talk about his life as a politician and conservative principles.
However due to the circumstances of the event, the North Somerset MP changed the topic to talked about the importance of free speech.
Jacob Rees-Mogg told MailOnline: ‘Some people came into the room and wanted the shout down the meeting but they did not succeed.
‘Lawful protest is part of our democratic system. But these people had no intention to debate and did not wish to have a conservation.’
Despite the skirmishes at the event, the 48-year-old Conservative MP said he did feel not physically threatened by the protesters and was not injured in the scuffles.
Mr Rees-Mogg added that while it was frustrating for the 300 people in attendance at the event that his speech was delayed, he was not shocked by the interruption.
He added: ‘A similar situation happened in Manchester when people tried to shout me down. People feel strongly about political issues and some respond by trying to engage in political debate while others shout.’
Acting as peacemaker as tensions flared, Mr Rees-Mogg said his intentions were to try to engage the protesters in rational debate.
He added: ‘As soon as you start pushing people, you risk putting yourself on the wrong side of the law. A bit of shouting does not hurt anyone.’
Chloe Kaye, who posted a video of the scuffles on Twitter, wrote: ‘A huge amount of (physical) violence a Jacob Rees-Mogg speech in UWE Bristol.’
The 19-year-old, who filmed the incident, said: ‘Jacob Rees-Mogg had just come in and was about to start talking when around five or six masked individuals stormed in the back of the room screaming ‘fascist’ and ‘racist’.
‘We were told they were part of Antifa (Anti-fascists) by the person who organised the event. I couldn’t believe there was not any security at the event either.
‘The hall must have been filled with around 200 people who were there at the event and they were all screaming at the protesters, some telling them to get out.
The Conservative backbencher was scheduled to speak to students at Bristol’s University of West England
Miss Kaye, who is a politics and international relations student at Bristol University, added: ‘Jacob Rees-Mogg was trying to reason with them but they just kept shouting at him. He remained incredibly calm throughout the whole process.
‘It took around 10 minutes before security to to come. They were eventually escorted out.
‘While I don’t necessarily agree with what he says, I wanted to hear what he had to say. I was talking to people behind me who were Jeremy Corbyn fans and even they were disappointed by it all.
‘After they were escorted out the building, everyone was clapping and cheering for Jacob Rees-Mogg. Eventually the talk got back on track and continued as normal.’
Sebastian Salton, 19, a student at the University of Bristol, said: ‘It was interrupted by antifascists, I don’t think it was assault, I think people were trying to get him out.
Security only arrived at the scene 10 minutes after the scuffles broke out
A man wearing glasses can be seen leaning over Jacob Rees-Mogg and trying to grab another person
‘There were about 200 people there, and five protesters. It took a few minutes for security to come. There was some negotiating.
‘There were a few police outside the room when the protesters left.
‘He went over to them and said ‘lets not shout them down,’ but they weren’t having any of it.
‘They were shouting ‘racist, misogynist, homophobe, sexist.’ They were talking about austerity.’
Will Smith, 19, who studies politics at Bristol University, said: ‘There were people in balaclavas shouting “fascist scum” and “sexist”.
Mr Rees-Mogg said he was not surprised that people had chosen to protest his speech
‘He handled it very well and approached them to try and engage them in debate.
‘He was the first to approach them.’
And Tyler Savage, 21, who also studies politics and Bristol University, added: ‘An older gentleman appeared to get between the protesters and Jacob.’
Video footage showed the crowd shouting ‘out, out, out,’ and ‘fight, fight, fight.’
Mr Smith said: ‘I think Jacob was getting in between a man and a woman.
‘I don’t think anybody was attacking Jacob, I think he was in between.’
MailOnline has contacted UWE and Avon and Somerset Police for comment.